First Timer's ADRs... what do you think?

[Weeziblu]

Even though we haven’t yet made our trip to the World, I happen to be an information / research junkie and have been diligent about finding out as much as I could before we set off on what is expected to be our first trip of many!

So, here we are:

Me (33), Mom – the planner, organizer and crazy Disney addicted person who frequents message boards and subscribes to every Disney newsletter possible
DH (36) Dad – great sport, is happy to let me plan to my little heart’s content and is game to try absolutely anything that I suggest.
DS (15) our teenage son who is super excited about Disney – his first REAL vacation (aka, first time he’s flying to get there) and thrilled that we’ll be there during Star Wars Weekends!
DD (4) Baby Sister and resident Princess – is the only family member who will let me talk non-stop about Disney without rolling her eyes. She’s as excited as I am!

Sat. June 16 – Day of Arrival (AKL)
DH & DS will likely head straight to MGM to check out the Star Wars stuff but DD and I might explore the hotel for awhile before me meet up with them for our first ADR 50s Prime Time – 8PM

Sun. June 17 – Father’s Day
Dad’s Choice: EPCOT
ADR LeCellier @ 6:30 PM
Also, ordered a surprise special occasion cake (8”, Choc w/ van. Buttercream, decorated with Mr. Incredible and will say “World’s Best Dad”)

Mon. June 18
BBB appt. for DD @ 9AM
Magic Kingdom
ADR CRT @ 12 noon

Tues. June 19
Take a breather day
Typhoon Lagoon
ADR Boma 5:00
(likely back to MK @ night)

Wed. June 20
Take it slow in the AM
Pool, maybe?
Afternoon – MGM
Fantasmic Pkg
ADR Hollywood & Vine 6:50 PM

Thurs. June 21
Animal Kingdom
ADR Raglan Road @ 7PM

Fri. June 22 – Day of Departure
ADR Chef Mickey’s 10AM
Whatever til its time to go (around 3PM)


What’s your feeling on this? Did we (I) choose good restaurants? How’s our ‘schedule’ look to you? Is it do-able???

TIA for your input!

 

[lake queen]

Schedule and ADR's look good, My only comment is that you are not spending much time at MK. That is our favorite park, do you have hoppers that you can go more? We love all the parks, but especially the MK!!

 

[CMedley78]

I think it looks great. Prime Time and Raglan Road are two of our favorites. Chef Mickey's is a hit with the kids. I think your timing is reasonable, too. Enjoy it! We'll be arriving the day before you leave....we can't wait!

 

[Weeziblu]

do you have hoppers that you can go more

YES! Absolutely, we have Park Hopper!

I realized that with the BBB appt. we would not be spending a full day (open to close) at MK but we will still have 12 noon (or whenever lunch at CRT ends) til closing time - that's not enough time? Really? Also, we are 'scheduled' to spend Tues. night there, too.

No worries, really, thought because we CAN park hop another day if we want to, also.

Thanks for the input!

 

[coasties]

We did Hollywood and Vine for the Fantasmic package last Aug and were pleased. Looks YUMMY! ENJOY!!

 

[Brer Brett]

Hey Weeziblu! I'm a bit jealous you get the Star Wars event when you're there. My fam will just miss it as we will be there May 14-21 (soon!).

I think your schedule looks great - during my first trips to the world, we hit the parks hard EARLY in the morning just about every day, and while we still had a great time, we wore ourselves out. Considering this is your first time there, you very well might WANT to hit the parks early and often to see as much as you can. However, pace yourself (especially with your little princess!).

Now when we go the world, our typical day usually starts at one of the parks, then back to the hotel for noon-early afternoon pool time, relax, etc. Then clean up, and go back to another park for dinner and more fun. It works for us, but we've been to the parks numerous times and we have older younger people in our family (i.e., twentysomethings) and my young-in-spirit parents!

As for the restaurants, I think you've made some excellent choices. Le Cellier probably has the best steaks in Disney in my opinion. Prime Time is one of the best at MGM. I'd recommend Tony's at Magic Kingdom (lady and tramp Italian setting) as well. Most of the restaurants in World Showcase at Epcot are great, and if you guys like seafood, try Coral Reef at Epcot (the huge aquarium is pretty cool).

Have fun! Oh and if you're only going to one water park, I'd go for Blizzard Beach over Typhoon Lagoon . . . but Lagoon is great too! And where are you staying, just curious??

 

[Weeziblu]

Have fun! Oh and if you're only going to one water park, I'd go for Blizzard Beach over Typhoon Lagoon . . . but Lagoon is great too! And where are you staying, just curious??

We decided on Typhoon over Blizzard Beach simply because it looked more friendly to the younger crowd. Based on reviews I've read on sites and in my guide books that Blizzard Beach has more thrill-type experiences and Typhoon Lagoon is a little more laid back. Guess we'll have to do Blizzard Beach next trip!

We're staying at AKL - we decided to go all-out and really treat ourselves this first time! I'm not sure we'll be able to justify it for repeat trips, but you never know what the future may hold, right?

 

[Christine]

We decided on Typhoon over Blizzard Beach simply because it looked more friendly to the younger crowd. Based on reviews I've read on sites and in my guide books that Blizzard Beach has more thrill-type experiences and Typhoon Lagoon is a little more laid back. Guess we'll have to do Blizzard Beach next trip!

I personally think you made a good choice with Typhoon Lagoon. I've been to both water parks several times and I like them both *almost* equally but I have to give TL the nod for being more relaxing and more comfy in a chair (and more child friendly). BB definitely has the better slides but I wear myself out walking all over the place. Most times, the line for the chair lift is LONG and I end up walking. It just wears me out.

As for your dining--looks good to me. I've been many times so I'm kind of "jaded" on some of the food places but I think you're going to enjoy your choices.

I also want to agree with the poster who talked about going to the parks EARLY!! Now, I *know* it's vacation but if you are trying to maximize your time in the parks, early is the way to go (especially in June). In all of my visits, I will tell you that, in general, people cannot get up and get moving. If you get to the parks when they open, you are going to have a SOLID two hours of "ease" in the parks. You can knock out several rides fairly quickly.

So many people start arriving by 11:00 a.m. that it gets bad. So, you may want to try going early, leaving (if you need to) and going back.

We always go at opening and we actually never go back to the room. But by 5:00 p.m. we have usually done all we need to do and we cover a LOT of ground in the first 2 hours.

 

[MikeKV]

Even though we haven’t yet made our trip to the World, I happen to be an information / research junkie and have been diligent about finding out as much as I could before we set off on what is expected to be our first trip of many!

So, here we are:

Me (33), Mom – the planner, organizer and crazy Disney addicted person who frequents message boards and subscribes to every Disney newsletter possible
DH (36) Dad – great sport, is happy to let me plan to my little heart’s content and is game to try absolutely anything that I suggest.
DS (15) our teenage son who is super excited about Disney – his first REAL vacation (aka, first time he’s flying to get there) and thrilled that we’ll be there during Star Wars Weekends!
DD (4) Baby Sister and resident Princess – is the only family member who will let me talk non-stop about Disney without rolling her eyes. She’s as excited as I am!

Sorry, but I just had to notice your age when you had your DS. 18? Wow! Congratulations on a young and what appears to be very happy marriage. I wish your whole family many happy years to come....especially at DW

 

[Weeziblu]

Sorry, but I just had to notice your age when you had your DS. 18? Wow! Congratulations on a young and what appears to be very happy marriage. I wish your whole family many happy years to come....especially at DW

Thanks! Yep, its been a real adventure! LOL We're coming up on our 15th wedding anniversary this Sept. so we've really defied the odds and I can say with absolute honesty that I am very happily married and desperately in love. (and I'm not really a mushy-type person ). Funny that you noticed. Actually, funnier that you mentioned it. Usually, when people find out that I have an almost-15 year old (he will be by the time we travel in mid-June) I can read their expressions and imagine what they are thinking but somehow they think it is less rude to look surprised and make assumptions rather than just asking about it. No worries, though. Your reply actually made me smile - because I know isn't every day you come across a girl who's been happily married since she was 18. We've had some trying times, of course, but we've worked hard at building our happy little family and we're quite proud of ourselves!

 

[Weeziblu]

I also want to agree with the poster who talked about going to the parks EARLY!!

Well then, lucky for us that we're morning people!
We are planning to be at the parks as early as we can be with the exception of our MK day and ONLY because of Princess DD's BBB appt. I really wanted to be there at park opening but she's soooo looking foward to her princess makeover for lunch at CRT!

Thanks for the tips!

 

[The Sweetness]

As long as your fam usually eats dinner that late in the day, they shouldnt have a prob with it. If I told DH and DD15 that we had a dinner res for 6:30, theyd look at me like I was nutso

 

[skier_pete]

I think you have a great plan, but agree with the earlier poster that you will probably want more time at MK once you get there. Perhaps your Wed (20th) day you will want to spend the morning at MK and take a mid-day breather before hitting fantasmic.

Just remember, planning is important, but, especially if you've never been there before, be flexible, you may find things you love that you want to get back to.

And, be sure to use those FastPasses. (Too many 1st timers don't take advantage of them.)

SkierPete

 

[Weeziblu]

As long as your fam usually eats dinner that late in the day

Unfortunately, we're used to eating late. We're not even home before 6PM most week nights. Between our crazy work schedules and the kids activities (DD dances and DS is a wrestler), plus we all have gym memberships and like to go a couple of times per week (DD comes to the Kid Klub at my gym).

We can handle the late meals no problem. Matter of fact, I wondered if our earlier ADRs weren't too early for us, LOL!

 

[Weeziblu]

but agree with the earlier poster that you will probably want more time at MK once you get there. Perhaps your Wed (20th) day you will want to spend the morning at MK and take a mid-day breather before hitting fantasmic.

Really??? So you think that with 10 hours on Monday and 5+ hours on Tuesday night we still won't have spent enough time at MK?

We're not really getting to spend much time at MGM on Day of Arrival and I'm anticipating major crowds due to Star Wars Wknds so I figured we'd need more time at MGM on Wednesday afternoon before our ADR and Fantasmic.

I appreciate the input.. I'm going to start another thread - I have more questions!

 

[MikeKV]

Thanks! Yep, its been a real adventure! LOL We're coming up on our 15th wedding anniversary this Sept. so we've really defied the odds and I can say with absolute honesty that I am very happily married and desperately in love. (and I'm not really a mushy-type person ). Funny that you noticed. Actually, funnier that you mentioned it. Usually, when people find out that I have an almost-15 year old (he will be by the time we travel in mid-June) I can read their expressions and imagine what they are thinking but somehow they think it is less rude to look surprised and make assumptions rather than just asking about it. No worries, though. Your reply actually made me smile - because I know isn't every day you come across a girl who's been happily married since she was 18. We've had some trying times, of course, but we've worked hard at building our happy little family and we're quite proud of ourselves!

Yea, you read my mind and I was trying to be as nice, or PC, as possible. Good, I'm glad I made you smile . It's not easy to get married so early in life because there's so much still to learn about life and each other. Ok, I'll stop. I think your plan looks good. Your DD will love Chef Mickeys. Little kids love Character dining. My wife and DD4 are leaving May 1st for DW. Can't wait .

 

[Katiebell]

Your choices look great...and your timing is perfect for DD's princess makeover and then lunch w/Cindy at the castle! I also love your Father's Day plans. The cake sounds just wonderful! I'm sure he'll love it.

If you are morning people, you'll probably end up at the parks early instead of "taking it easy" those mornings anyway

 

[the other micki]

Plans look great! I can see you've done your research! (We're alot alike, I can tell ) Would it be possible to visit MK after your Chef Mickey's breakfast on the last day before you have to leave? Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[Weeziblu]

Would it be possible to visit MK after your Chef Mickey's breakfast on the last day before you have to leave?

yes, that is a very definate possibility. I purposely left that day wide open so we could do anything we wanted 'one last time' before heading home!

 

[the other micki]

You're going to have a great time! It's really wise of you to put "down time" into your schedule. After all, it is a vacation!!!